United States Department Of Agriculture Food For Peace, Title Ii Program

The Food for Peace Program, Title II is a federal funding opportunity administered by the United States Department of Agriculture through its Foreign Agricultural Service, specifically the International Food Assistance Division. This program is rooted in long-standing statutory authority under the Agricultural Trade and Development Assistance Act and is designed to provide emergency food assistance using U.S.-sourced agricultural commodities. The program reflects a policy priority to support both humanitarian needs abroad and domestic agricultural producers, emphasizing that all commodities must be entirely of U.S. origin. It also incorporates strong accountability measures to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of funds or diversion of aid. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to address acute food insecurity and famine conditions in designated countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, and Rwanda. Eligible projects must respond to emergency conditions such as widespread food consumption gaps, conflict-driven food crises, or humanitarian emergencies exceeding local response capacity. The program focuses on delivering immediate relief through food distribution while also encouraging approaches that reduce long-term dependency on foreign aid through careful monitoring and exit strategies. Funding under this opportunity is substantial, with a total program allocation of 357 million dollars and individual awards ranging from 20 million to 200 million dollars. These awards must cover the full scope of program costs, including procurement of U.S. commodities, freight, and operational expenses such as administration and internal transportation, storage, and handling. At least 50 percent of requested funds must be dedicated to commodity procurement and freight. Cash transfers and vouchers are not allowed, and all funded activities must align strictly with federal cost principles and program objectives. Eligibility is limited to public or private organizations, including nonprofit entities, intergovernmental organizations, and multilateral institutions. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience or operational capacity to implement emergency food assistance programs in international contexts. Individuals, foreign governments, and U.S. government entities are explicitly excluded. Applicants must also maintain active registration in the System for Award Management and provide documentation demonstrating eligibility and compliance with all requirements. The application process is structured as a multi-phase submission. Applicants must first submit a Concept Paper, which includes a needs assessment, technical approach, budget overview, commodity plan, geographic targeting map, and past performance documentation. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full application with expanded technical, financial, and operational details. Submission of a concept paper does not guarantee advancement or funding. Applications are evaluated based on criteria such as technical quality, budget reasonableness, commodity planning, and organizational capacity. Key deadlines include a question submission deadline of June 3, 2026 and a concept paper submission deadline of June 12, 2026. The anticipated period of performance for funded projects is 18 to 24 months. Applications must be submitted via email for the initial phase and through the Food Aid Information System for the full application stage. USDA conducts a structured review process, including eligibility screening, technical evaluation, and risk assessment, before issuing awards. The program requires rigorous monitoring, reporting, and compliance throughout the project lifecycle. Recipients must submit semi-annual financial and performance reports and ensure adherence to strict accountability standards. The USDA maintains oversight through monitoring visits and reporting requirements while allowing recipients operational autonomy in implementation. For inquiries, applicants may contact the program via the designated email address, foodforpeace@usda.gov, which serves as the primary communication channel for this funding opportunity.